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By Carla Branch
alexandrianews.org
Volunteer Alexandria hosted the 14th annual Business Philanthropy Summit this morning and recognized five business philanthropists and nonprofit leaders.
Thomas Raffa, the founder and managing partner of RAFFA, P.C., gave the keynote address. His company is widely recognized for the number of volunteer hours staff members give to their communities each year.
?I used to think that philanthropy was personal and private,? Raffa said. ?I still think it is personal but I no longer believe that it is private.?
Raffa encouraged business leaders to get involved and told nonprofit leaders to keep those businesses involved. ?It?s good to ask large corporations for major donations but it is the small business across the hall that is going to want to be involved in local nonprofits,? he said. ?Once you have a local business involved, it is up to you to keep them involved year after year by giving them something in return.?
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The BB&T Lighthouse Project received the 2012 Large Business Philanthropist of the Year award. The Lighthouse Project is BB&T?s innovative company-wide program that engates employees to be a guiding light for positive change within their own communities. For greatest impact, branch employees join together to select one or more projects on which to focus their attentions each year. The Alexandria/Arlington Lighthouse team has completed 28 projects, donated $40,000 and together all of the BB&T Lighthouse teams have provided over 150,000 volunteer hours and touched the lives of more than five million people.
Alexandria Lighthouse projects include: Alexandria Health Clinic, Alexandria Domestic Violence Program, ARHA?s Ruby Tucker Family Center, Carpenter?s Shelter, Child and Family Network Centers, Christ House, CrisisLink, Community Lodgings, Computer C.O.R.E., Rebuilding Together Alexandria, the RunningBrooke Fund, SCAN, Volunteer Alexandria?s The Big Event and Spring For Alexandria Community Service Day and Wright to Read.
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Don Simpson Jr. accepts Local Business Philanthropist of the Year award from "Mango Mike" Anderson on behalf of Simpson Development Company, Inc. (Photo: Wayne Hulehan)
The 2012 Local Business Philanthropist of the Year went to Simpson Development Company Inc. Donald Simpson SR and Donald Simpson Jr. attended this morning?s breakfast.
For generations, Simpson Development Company and the Simpson family have contributed time and business expertise to programs such as Campagna Center?s Business Connections Program, the Alexandria Little League, The Salvation Army and First Night Alexandria. They have also actively supported recent fundraising initiatives including The Kelley Cares Foundation 5k Walk/Run, Senior Services Generation-to-Generation Gala and construction of the new City of Alexandria Miracle Field.
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The Hoffman family received the 2012 Business Philanthropy Legacy award. A little over 50 years ago a visionary entrepreneur bought some swampland on the outskirts of Alexandria. A hard worker, but a risk-taker too, this risk paid off. From soldier to baker to successful New York Life salesman, Hubert N. Hoffman, SR. (?Dutch?) then founded and built his development company on that piece of land in the Eisenhower Valley. Now the Hoffman Town Center is one of Alexandria?s largest retail and entertainment centers and the Eisenhower Valley is home to 400+ public and private organizations employing over 25,000 people.
The Hoffman family developed the area as a thoughtfully livable mixed-use urban center accessible to public transportation, shops and jobs. They also ? without much fanfare ? contributed extensively to many area causes.
It is evident that one of the legacies Hubert Hoffman passed to the next generation was to support what you believe in. As a young man, Hubert N. Hoffman, III (?Jay?) enlisted in the U. D. Army and served his country in the 11th Armored Calvary in Europe. He subsequently served on the Board of Governors at his alma mater St. Stephens School, as the president of the Alexandria Contractors? Association, on the Board of Directors of the Alexandria Hospital and on the Philatelic Council for the Smithsonian Institution?s National Postal Museum.
Hoffman family members have continued in this vibrant tradition supporting the Fund for Alexandria?s Children, Senior Services, SCAN, Alexandria?s Walk to Fight Breast Cancer, Inova Hospital and funding an entire family shelter wing for Carpenter?s Shelter. In addition, the Hoffman family gave a substantial donation that allows Carpenter?s Shelter to award scholarships annually to its clients.
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Janet Barnett was named the 2012 Nonprofit Leader of the Year. After more than 30 years with the City of Alexandria?s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Janet retired and became the executive director of Senior Services of Alexandria. In times of budget constraints, Janet broadened SSA?s donor base, raised visibility and attendance at the organization?s largest annual fundraiser within the community, initiated ?Mayors for Meals? in conjunction with Meals on Wheels of America and developed service-critical collaborations that were key to not just continuing services but growing them. Meals on Wheels has been extended into the weekend thanks to grants and participation from the Rotary Club of Alexandria and Alexandria Yellow Cab Company, and on holidays through a donation from the Ronald M. Bradley Foundation. Funds for a Resource Center have been granted from local churches and private donors; and Janet has implemented a lecture series to share expertise. Janet has also served on nonprofit boards and commissions including the Rotary Club of Alexandria, the Old Town Business and Professional Association and the Commission on Aging.
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This year?s Nonprofit Board Leader of the Year is Kim Fiske. Strategic vision, fiscal sustainability and building consensus are the components of Kim Fiske?s leadership. Drawing skills and experience from her day job as a partner in the law firm of Fiske and Harvey PLLC, Kim has been able to directly benefit those in need during her extensive volunteer career.
Beginning as a volunteer reader for the blind, she increased her investment of time and talent to include joining the Board of the Alexandria-Olympic branch of the Boys and girls Club, which led to Board leadership positions with the United Way of Alexandria, SCAN and ACT for Alexandria.
Understanding the ?community? in community foundation, she has invested countless hours of her time as a founding member of ACT?s development committee because she understands the big picture of how the foundation?s success results in benefits for Alexandrians overall.
For SCAN she was instrumental in developing a plan for fiscal reserve, which along with an extended term of leadership positions on the Board of Directors, ensured continuity of leadership, stability of services and ultimately increased impact for the children and families served.
The Business Philanthropy Summit was part of Spring for Alexandria, a four-day celebration of service to the community.
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